5 Things to Do This Weekend (Dec. 31-Jan. 3)

Wednesday

Dec 30, 2009 at 12:01 AMDec 30, 2009 at 11:54 AM

This week, party it up on New Year’s Eve and then relax on the long weekend by watching parades, football games and more.

Party time! Excellent!

Thursday night is New Year’s Eve, and New York City won’t be the only town that’s rockin’: many pubs, restaurants and the like have special parties planned. Check the newspaper for information on the hot spots. Of course, don’t feel bad about staying in and celebrating by watching the Times Square festivities, which this year feature the return of Dick Clark. Ryan Seacrest will be hosting the ABC broadcast as well. If you go out, please make sure to have a designated driver in your group or call a taxi. Many places are offering free drinks (non-alcoholic, of course) to designated drivers, so check around.

Before the fireworks …

Be sure to check out the New Year’s Eve night sky for more scientific reasons, too – Thursday features a rare blue moon, which is a year’s 13th full moon (it only takes place about once every three years). If you happen to be in Europe, Africa, Asia or Australia, you might also be able to see a partial lunar eclipse this night. And if you want to keep your eyes on the skies more this weekend, watch for the Quadrantids Meteor Shower. These meteors peak on Sunday, but they might be visible on New Year’s Eve if you’re really lucky. Find more information on the Quadrantids at www.spaceweather.com/meteors/quadrantids/quadrantids.html.

The new decade begins

When all the partying is done, sit back and relax and catch the New Year’s Day fun on TV: the Tournament of Roses Parade and the Rose Bowl. The parade steps off at 11 a.m. EDT on ABC, and the football game – Oregon vs. Ohio State – kicks off at 5 p.m. EDT on ABC. There are other college bowl games on Friday as well, including the Capital One Bowl (Penn State vs. LSU) and the Allstate Sugar Bowl (Cincinnati vs. Florida). Find more information about the games at www.ncaafootball.com, and find more parade information at www.tournamentofroses.com.

Keep those resolutions!

Now that the New Year – and new decade – is here, make sure you make it easier for yourself to stick to your resolutions. Did you set a goal of losing weight or getting in shape? Why not check out health clubs or home gym equipment this weekend? The sooner you start on your new goal, the better you’ll probably fare.

They’re not bowl games, but …

This Sunday marks the last weekend of NFL regular-season action, so be sure to tune in to some games, especially if your team isn’t going to make the playoffs. Why not head to a pub and commiserate with fellow fans as you watch your team for the last time this season? Find schedules, news and more at www.nfl.com.

GateHouse News Service

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